2018 Commonwealth Games – DRAW
The draw has been made for the boxing at the Commonwealth Games which begin in Australia this week.
Twelve Irish fighters will look to claim career-changing medals on the Gold Coast at the multi-sport games.
Last time, in Glasgow, the Northern Irish team of 11 fighters brought home an astounding nine medals (2 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze).
The draw today saw six of the fighters confirmed for the quarter-finals, meaning they require just one win to guarantee a bronze medal.
Starting off in the middleweight Round of 32 is Rio Olympian and bronze medalist last time out Steven Donnelly. The Ballymena man is in with Welsh youngster Kyran Jones who he has been sparring in the build-up.
European bronze medalist Kurt Walker will face home favourite Jack Bowen in the bantamweight Last 16 on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, welterweight Aidan Walsh has received a bye and he will start in the Last 16 versus the winner of the bout between Guernsey’s William Le Poullain and Pakistani Gul Zaib.
European Games bronze medalist and male team captain Sean McComb has received a bye to the Last 16 and in Sunday will face the winner of the light welterweight bout between Ghanaian Jessie Lartey and England’s Luke McCormack – the fighter who claimed a controversial win over McComb in the quarters of the European Championships last year.
On Sunday the team will look to bag their first medal with Kristina O’Hara fighting Welshwoman Lynsey Holdaway in the light flyweight quarter-finals.
Another to receive a bye, lightweight James McGivern is in Last 16 action on Monday and will face either Kiribati’s Tevii Steven or Zambian Emmanuel Ngoma.
Later on Monday, Rio Olympian and double continental medalist Brendan Irvine faces Barbadian Jabali Breedy in the flyweight Last 16.
On Tuesday, heavyweight Dee Sullivan goes to guarantee bronze versus home favourite Jason Whateley.
Also on Tuesday, silver medalist in 2014, Michaela Walsh looks to bag a bronze versus Botswanan Keamogetse Kenosi.
Rounding off the day, Stephen McMonagle has been given a bye into the super heavy quarters and will also be going for bronze against either Scot Mitchell Barton or New Zealand’s Patrick Mailata.
On Wednesday in the lightweight quarter-finals, Alanna Nihell will go for a second bronze against the winner of the bout between England’s Paige Murray and Laizani Soma of Papua New Guinea.
Finally, later on on Wednesday, Carly McNaul will box for flyweight bronze against Ayisat Oriyomi.
